Gun and ammo sales on the rise, dealers can't keep up

[The Straight Story]

Gun and ammo sales on the rise, dealers can't keep up

Cheyenne - 3/13/2009

It is not uncommon to walk into a gun shop and find self-protection ammunition sold out and weapons flying off the shelves. For Guns and Gear in Cheyenne, they're no exception.

"I haven't had in the past a difficult time just getting product, but, what you see here, all those empty pegs. We never have that, except now. We can't fill them and when we get guns to fill them, they go out the door about the same day they get here," explained Guns and Gear owner Frank Gerstenkorn, as he point to the gun rack behind the counter, "Our sales this year, I believe will double last year's."

Guns sales spiked in November as sportsman's fears rose about the future of gun-rights. That follows talk of additional taxes on firearms and a ban of certain types of assault-weapons. To add onto it, worries about the economy and potential for increased crime.

"People who have bedroom windows, don't want someone coming through them and they're buying firearms to protect themselves," Gerstenkorn said.

....

Experts in the industry believe it could take years for producers to catch up with demand.

http://www.kgwn.tv/story.aspx?ID=1786&Cat=2

[cherish44]

1. How to stir up a right wing nutjob

Obama's coming for your guns and then he's coming for your daughter...

[The Straight Story]

3. I dunno, my friend voted for obama and has guns

His comment to me was that he too was afraid of Obama when it comes to guns but said he voted for him anyway because the gun issue was small compared to the bigger problems on which he agreed with Obama.

Right after he was elected he bought a new ar-15 which I helped him put together (it was fun and educational) and was buying up ammo in fear of new taxes on it or a shortage.

Not just rw'ers get stirred up when it comes to guns and Obama :)

As for me - I posted his interview with field and stream here, he certainly did not seem anti-gun in it.

Just hype until something concrete happens IMHO.

[TheWraith]

12. Sounds like your friend gets the bigger picture.

However, I don't think there's much to worry about on the gun front. Pelosi, Reid, and the other congressional Dems like being in the majority, so they don't want to piss off a huge segment of the country.

For that matter, I think Obama's nominal support for the AWB is as much to make some people happy as anything else. He knows it wouldn't pass, and he's also smart enough to know that the last one didn't do crap to actually stop crime, since almost all crimes are committed with handguns not rifles.

[sendero]

85. I don't think this is ALL Obama....

.... I think a lot of people are expecting a severe depression and the commensurate high crime rate.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Stories like this are annoying and disappointing at the same time.

Annoying to realize people really ARE that stupid to think the liberals are going to grab their guns...

And disappointing that we let that message get cemented in the idiots' block-heads.

[The Straight Story]

4. We are a big tent, and there are some in this big tent who do seem to want to grab guns

but like with many other things people look at the few to judge the whole - which sadly happens a lot in everything from race to religion.

But then again - the news tends to report the negative.

here is a nice headline: Over 100 million people with guns did not use them to harm anyone or steal anything, but 5 did....

[tangent90]

6. Nice. Kinda like the (never seen) headline: "20 million people travel on planes today safely"

I hear ya.
:-)

[tangent90]

5. Does that mean the folks here on DU who want to ban guns aren't liberals?

(It might be true, I just wonder...)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

7. I'll say it again...

People who think Liberals will grab their guns are stupid.

To put a finer point on it, you would probably be more likely, if not more, to have your gun "grabbed" by a right-wing authoritarian regime wrapped in a flag carrying a cross.

[tangent90]

9. I was just asking. I'm very aware the Brady bunch is the spawn of Republicans.

I know several ...even many people who consider 2nd Amendment issues to be right at the top of their list of important ones and they supported Obama because they were scared shitless of McCain.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. .

:)

[aikoaiko]

29. There's all sorts of stupid out there.

It’s true, that it is very unlikely that any elected politician will order the confiscation of guns under normal situations (but it did happen in NOLA post-Katrina). In fact this run on guns and ammo is counting on the fact that if there are future gun bans their guns will be grandfathered in .

Is there good reason to think that another AWB is possible? I think so.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/urban_policy/
Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.

You might think that Obama campaigning on this policy and keeping it posted after winning the election was just political theater to keep his gun ban constituency happy, but then more recently his Attorney General made it sound like reauthorizing the AWB was a front and center issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6960824&page=1

Obama to Seek New Assault Weapons Ban
Previous Ban Expired in 2004 During the Bush Administration
By JASON RYAN
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2009
The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.
"As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons," Holder told reporters.

I hope that the Obama administration is just spouting meaningless rhetoric to appease the anti-gun folks, but I have to take him at his word. Unless the House and Senate stand up this sort of rhetoric (both Nancy and Harry have not been very supportive of this legislation) it certainly looks like it is on the Whitehouse agenda.

Now ammo is different story. Yes, there was some talk during the campaign about Obama supporting he tax increases on ammo while he was a state Senator, but he’s dropped that rhetoric since becoming a national figure. The real scare about ammo now is the effort to make manufacturers microstramp all bullets with unique numbers.

See this website for some of the legislation: http://ammunitionaccountability.org/Legislation.htm

The cost of this coding process will undoubtedly cause ammo prices to increase and people should think about getting their ammo now because it won’t ever get cheaper.

In truth, ammo prices have been on the rise for the last 3 years and some of the ammo buying panic is just a hedge on future price increases regardless of new laws.

It might be fair to say that people are stupid if they think Obama is going to have his agents walk in to their houses and confiscate guns, but its not stupid to horde non-perishable things that will be scarce or more expensive in the future.

At this point, I wish I were able to go back three years, cash out my retirement fun and invested in ARs, AKs, and ammo.

[Hoopla Phil]

8. Yep, I had a heck of a time trying to get some decent .22 today.

The only thing on the shelf was the cheap bulk pack stuff.:(

[doc03]

11. This is certainly true, I bought a 40 caliber pistol last week

and had to go to three gun stores before I found some ammo. The reason I bought the gun myself is because of all the gun grabbing talk here on DU. It is a semi-automatic pistol and holds 17 rounds, just the kind of thing the gun grabbers want to take. Sturm Ruger and Smith and Wesson stocks are among the few bright spots in the market today, so actually the gun grabbers have helped arm America to the teeth and make gun and ammo manufacturers rich.

[tangent90]

14. Sometimes unintended consequences are actually good.

:D

[L0oniX]

48. ehhh ...it's just disaster economics. All the ammo manufacturers got into it to take advantage.

Yea right.

[goddess40]

13. Why are Americans so afraid? nt

[tangent90]

15. I'm not afraid, I'm well armed. Are you afraid? Are you an American?

:shrug:

[depakid]

19. It's a pretty good bet that "well armed" folks are indeed afraid

and that seems to be especially true of Americans.

[tangent90]

22. No, you haven't managed to read. Well armed folks are NOT afraid.

Why is that simple fact so difficult for you to grasp?
I'm fairly certain you're not an idiot.

[depakid]

24. It they're not afraid, then why do they feel the need to be "well armed?"

I's either fear or some sort of obsession. Possibly both.

[tangent90]

30. It's a bit like how an educated person isn't afraid of being an idiot.

...

[depakid]

33. Fear is a VERY common theme among "wwll armed" Americans

Often times it's irrational. Fear of "the government" or fear of "the other" or fear of crime- when in fact by being "well armed," you drastically increase your chances of being involved in or contributing to a tragedy among members of your own household.

Of course, not all fear is irrational. A person woking at a liquor store that's been robbed for example- or an armored car driver. But for most people that's not what's driving their "need" for guns (and we're not talking hunting rifles here).

[spoony]

43. Do you have a smoke alarm?

For most owners, a gun is in the same "hope I don't need it but better safe than sorry" category. It isn't fear, though it is caution.

[L0oniX]

50. Ding Ding Ding ...we have a winner!

:hi:

[depakid]

56. A smoke alawm doesn't dramatically increase the chances my house will catch fire

Having guns in the household, on the other hand DOES dramatically increase the chances that you or someone in your family will be involved in a firearms related crime or tragedy.

Like I said- it's FEAR driven and based on inadequate (or irrational) risk assesment.

[spoony]

57. Well simply owning a thing won't protect you.

Whether it is an alarm or a gun. It must be properly handled or they are worse than useless because you only think you're protected. Batteries must be checked, guns must be secured from the wrong hands. It's all about knowing what to do, and what not to do, with the tools you have.

[depakid]

58. That goes without saying

I tend to view the issue from a public health perspective (though I see the legal perspectives every bit as clearly).

Fact is, people (especially viewed as a population) don't always- are perhaps even mostly, secure or handle their firearms properly. Moreover, even those who do are prone to anger over domestic matters- or develop mental illness, or have kids who are clever enough to get their hands on- or are even bought their own guns. There are dozens of reasons why owning firearms places one's household members at much higher risk of being involved in a tragedy (or perpetrating a crime).

That's the irony. Fear of being a crime victim (which in most areas is WAY overblown by the sensationalist media) causes one to purchase a weapon- which in turn makes them on the whole- more vulnerable to the very sort of thing that they fear.

Add a very vocal, extreme and well financed minority into the mix- which among other things reinforces the fear and you have a recipe for repeated mass shootings- every several weeks- along with extraordinarily high rates of fireams crime, homicide and avoidable tragedies.

[tangent90]

60. So, as an expert (so you say), what would you propose as a 'solution' to the 'problem'

you are obviously very, very concerned about? Other than impugning the integrity of people who value the Bill of Rights, that is.

[depakid]

64. Like I said- it's a public health issue

that's entangled with legal, cultural and practical constraints.

And to be honest- I DO see more than a fair bit of cowardice, irrationality and "me-ism" at the expense of the overall health, welfare and safety of society.

I especially see that in folks who callously cite The Bill of Rights in support of the above.

One of the first things that's necessary in developing public policy (or solving any problem) is to identify the root causes- two of which I've already done: irrational fear and innaccurate risk assessment. Think twice before buying a gun- particularly a semi-automatic handgun, pump action shotgun or assault weapon.

That's got to be addressed by an educational campaign, before support for most any responsible and effective regulation will widely attainable.

There are several other matters that will have to be addressed on the federal level with respect to licensing and monitoring, coordinated buybacks, assurance of proper storage, trigger locks, etc.

Ultimately, my prefernce would be to see American gun laws (and the results therefrom) in line with other nations like Australia- that don't have repeated mass shooting any more- much less every several weeks. It's doubtful whther that'll ever be "doable" in the states- where too many people (a very vocal minority) seem to prefer the status quo, along with the largest and most expensive prison system in the world.

[tangent90]

70. Well, Australia has about half as many people as California in an area

not much smaller than the USA and except for Aborigines has a fairly homogeneous population. Not to mention an authoritarian rightwing government with a highly racist history.

I'm trying to figure out where you're 'coming from', so to speak...your profile says Oregon NSW which is a bit confusing since
Portland is a good way far from Sydney. Anyway, you seem to be confused about guns in a very general way: you mention "semi-automatic handgun" as if it were something especially frightening. A 'six shooter' (revolver) is semi-automatic.
A "pump action shotgun" is NOT semi-automatic, but there are shotguns that will 'autoload' which means they will eject a spent cartridge and put a new one in the chamber without any muscle power from the shooter...and neither of these are
affected by the "AWB" that many anti-Second-Amendment people are so in love with.

Now having said that, it does seem you are far from clear on what is meant by "assault weapon" or "assault rifle" in either popular -or- legal vernacular. It has been explained a thousand times here on DU but somehow doesn't quite make it through the "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with facts" mindset of some people.

I do, however, agree with part of your last comment: it is not 'doable' because most people value their rights and are not willing to throw them in the toilet regardless of what some foreign pearl-clutcher might wish. And yes, the prisons are way too full...because of the bogus 'war on drugs' that does nothing but transfer wealth from mostly decent people to bureaucrats, albeit 'legally.'

[depakid]

80. "Portland is a good way far from Sydney"

About 22 hours via SF.

And while there are merits in being bi-continental, our preference is NSW (responsible firearms policies and attendent benefits being only one of many reasons).

Speaking of which- since (like many gun proliferation advocates) you like to quibble about definitions- here are the one's we prefer to live under:

Before someone can buy a firearm, he or she must obtain a Permit To Acquire. The first permit has a mandatory 28 day delay before it is first issued. In some states (e.g. Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales), this is waived for second and subsequent firearms of the same class. For each firearm a "Genuine Reason" must be given, relating to pest control, hunting, target shooting, or collecting. Self-defence is not accepted as a reason for issuing a licence, though it is legal under certain circumstances to use a legally-held firearm for self-defence.

Each firearm in Australia must be registered to the owner by serial number. Some states allow an owner to store or borrow another person's registered firearm of the same category.

Firearms categories

Firearms in Australia are grouped into Categories with different levels of control. The categories are:

* Category A: rimfire rifle (not semi-automatic), shotguns (not pump-action or semi-automatic), air rifles, and paintball markers.

* Category B: centrefire rifles (not semi-automatic), muzzleloading firearms made after 1 January 1901.

* Category C: semi-automatic rimfire rifles holding 10 or fewer rounds and pump-action or semi-automatic shotguns holding 5 or fewer rounds. (Restricted: only primary producers, occupational shooters, collectors and professional sporting shooters can own functional Category C firearms)

* Category D: semi-automatic centrefire rifles, pump-action/semi-automatic shotguns holding more than 5 rounds (functional Category D firearms are restricted to occupational shooters; collectors may own deactivated Category D firearms).<2>

* Category H: handguns including air pistols, deactivated handguns and guns less than 65 cm long. Target shooters are limited to handguns of .38" calibre or less.

(Participants in approved competitions may acquire handguns up to .45", currently Single Action Shooting and Metallic Silhouette. IPSC shooting is not approved for the larger calibres, for unstated reasons. Category H barrels must be at least 100 mm (3.94") long for revolvers, and 120 mm (4.72") for semi-automatic pistols, and magazines are restricted to 10 rounds. Handgun collectors are exempt from the laws stated above.)

* Category R/E: restricted weapons: machine guns, rocket launchers, assault rifles, flame-throwers, anti-tank guns, Howitzers, artillery, .50-calibre BMG weapons, etc. (Collectors in some states only, weapons must be comprehensively deactivated. Deactivated firearms are still subject to the same storage and licensing requirements as 'live' firearms in many states.)

Antique firearms can in some states be legally bought without licences. In other states they are subject to the same requirements as modern firearms.

Also- let me add that the attitudes (and bogus assertions you express here:

... it is not 'doable' because most people value their rights and are not willing to throw them in the toilet regardless of what some foreign pearl-clutcher might wish.

illustrate myriad reasons why Americans have not only doomed themslves to repeated mass shootings- but will NEVER have responsible, cost effective universal healthcare- or seemingly, honesty and accuracy in their broadcast and cable media.

Sadly- the same sort of highly vocal (and well funded) minority interests, as well as "me-ism" -as opposed to recognition of rights, responsibilities and duties inherent in the social contract will prevent you from making the necessary policy and STRUCTURAL changes to government required to solve your problems.

[tangent90]

91. Actually, I have little interest in what kangaroo fuckers may or may not think.

...

[Pavulon]

77. I like the swiss model, and they dont regulate the internet either

turn your freedom over to the government. They will fix everything.

Is cocaine legal in sydney? Can i still get cocaine? If so I can get anything I want, with criminal intent. Of course if I abide by the law, then i am impacted.

[Edweird]

78. "(a very vocal minority)" Let's see... 60 million people, 240+ million PRIVATELY owned firearms.

That's not military or police, just private citizens.

I don't know how you're defining 'minority', but you might want to re-evaluate your criteria.

[depakid]

83. I think reasonable people know EXACTLY the type of folks I'm talking about

As a rough guess- that's probably about the same percentage as there are die hard fundies in the states (though not necessarily to equate the two).

[Paladin]

26. Many, Many Well-Armed People Are Scared Shitless.

There's daily proof of this in DU's very own Gun Dungeon.....

[tangent90]

31. Speak for yourself, Mr. "have no gun, no idea how to travel beyond my doublewide"

:puke:

[Paladin]

41. Wrong Again, Gun Boy.

In point of fact, I have a closet-full of guns, know how to use them, used to hunt. Those guns are now put away, because the shooting sports have been taken over by asswipes. Right-wing asswipes at that. Check out the DU Gun Dungeon on any given day for vivid confirmation of this---for that matter, just look over this thread. I fly fish for trout now; much nicer people to associate with.

And that closet where the guns are? Trust me, it's not in a doublewide. Nice descent into cultural elitism, by the way.

You better up the quality of your dialogue with me, or talk to somebody else. I never have believed in engaging in a duel of wits with an unarmed man......

[Tejas]

45. Including some in .gov that

would rather smother law-abiding citizens with MORE laws than facing criminals head-on by enforcing current laws.

After all, I'm sure you'd agree that criminals ARE the ones they should go after eh?

[Paladin]

46. Yeah, I'm All Broken Up About How Tough It Is To Get Guns In This Country.

The DU Gun Dungeon threads seem to be evenly divided between (a) screams about how the evil Democrats are about to kick your doors down and take your precious guns away; and (b) masturbatory-quality pics of the latest assault rifle somebody has added to their collection, together with crates of ammo to go with it. What a shame that gun militants don't have any appreciation of irony......

[SpiralHawk]

63. ...so well-armed folks claim

just like republicons claim they are 'conservative' when they are borrow-and-spend radicals who have placed America deep, deep, deep in debt, like a pack of radical Pharisees.

[tangent90]

71. With just a tiny bit of effort, you could manufacture a response even more unrelated to the

discussion. Or maybe not.

[L0oniX]

49. Have you ever been mugged or had your home invaded?

[madville]

86. I would say concerned

Gunowners are concerned about like people that have health insurance are concerned about a medical emergency. I don't live in fear of needing my health insurance just like I don't fear that I will need a gun, but I have both in case I do.

[mudesi]

37. You're Afraid (nm)

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pavulon]

79. I live in sight of a golf course

my neighbors are all retired. We both work very good jobs and own firearms. I see no reason that I should be impacted by assholes who commit crime.

They dont follow the rules anyway.

[Tejas]

44. Do words like "crime" (and the rise thereof) confuse you?

dibs on your canned goods!

:rofl:

[lotus]

16. I panicked early

I saw this coming, and panicked early by buying up ammo and a couple more guns last summer before everyone else figured it out. I should have enough ammo for a couple of years worth of practice, although I am a bit low on 9mm and need to find some.

Sad to say, there are many democrats that DO want to ban guns, so I can appreciate the concern of people worried about upcoming gun bans.

[doc03]

18. I heard a new one this week, I don't know if there is

any truth to it. I hear that the anti-gunners want to require ammo be loaded with powder that quickly deteriorates to make it impossible to hoard ammo. True or not it's a great sales promotion.
This is really crazy it's like the way people were back in 1999 stockpiling for y2k. Back in 1999 you couldn't find generators, bottled water, guns or ammo. A dealer told me last week he sold $3500 worth of MREs to one guy back in 99.

[Tejas]

38. If it accidently gets sold to LEO's or the military.....

Hate to think of the ramifications of that.

[AllentownJake]

36. There are more democrats in bed with the corptocracy than there are that want to ban guns

Priorities please...

[benEzra]

92. They're largely the same ones.

Feinstein, the DLC, etc.

[customerserviceguy]

17. Isn't it quite possible that the stuff is being resold?

Clearly there are states that have looser regulations on the sale of guns and ammo, and there are states where it might be nearly impossible to obtain them. If medical marijuana were made hands off by the Federal Government, wouldn't we expect to see pot sales in "legal" states rise to be transported off to states that did not recognize the harmlessness of a little pot?

Something I may have to ponder while I'm drinking a beer I bought in Deleware that I couldn't obtain here in NY...

[benEzra]

21. No states that I know of.

Clearly there are states that have looser regulations on the sale of guns and ammo, and there are states where it might be nearly impossible to obtain them.

There are no states where it is nearly impossible to lawfully obtain guns or ammunition. The only jurisdiction that statement is true of would be the District of Columbia, although the difficulties only apply to the law-abiding.

No, this gun and ammunition rush is by people who might want to own an AR-15, civilian AK, Glock, or Springfield XD someday, and who believe that there is a perhaps small but definitely nonzero chance that such guns, their magazines, or certain configurations thereof may be banned at some point, as they have been in California.

[customerserviceguy]

27. I know that here in NY

if I wanted a handgun, I'd have to get a license from the county, pay big bucks for it, and have to submit statements attesting to my being a good person from two of my neighbors. I'm sure glad I don't have to go through that hassle to excercise any other Constitutional rights.

Also, every handgun transaction here is registered, even between private citizens who are not gun dealers. If they have your address, at some point, they can change the law and come by to pick up the firearms. Buying from your cousin in the state a few hundred miles away might keep that from happening.

Sorry if I sound like a paranoid redneck here, it's just that I've lived around enough of them to know a bit of what they're thinking right now. President Obama scares them, and while they're hoarding food, they're also hoarding weaponry. I agree with your assessment about the big artillery, and I'd venture to guess that some of those firearms are being secretly transported across state lines.

[Selatius]

20. If any of you people want to find the people who want all guns banned, visit the guns forum.

There's always at least a couple in there who advocate something up to and including getting rid of all guns in civilian hands.

With that said, though, this is paranoia buying. They take a few people in the Democratic Party that want all guns banned and make it to seem like the entire party wants the 2nd Amendment erased. It's obviously people's ignorance and fear driving sales, and the propaganda coming out of the far right and the NRA and right wing radio.

[Tejas]

39. Not paranoia nor propoganda - whitehouse.gov

True, as the 1st part of your post states, there are those in the Gungeon that rant about how "icky" guns are and there are even those that promote the Fascist ideal of unarmed citizens. Some posters there are from foreign countries and actually relish in the idea of unarmed law-abiding citizens.


But as to the 2nd part of your post, awful hard to swallow the "propoganda/paranoia" accusation when the reality is stated in black and white:

From the website of the White House - http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/urban_policy/

(scroll 1/2 way down to the Crime and Law Enforcement section)
"Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent."



Get rid of the above mission-statement, rebuke it, detest it, and the Republicans won't have a leg to stand on in 2010. Leave it as-is and we'll repeat 1994.

[Thothmes]

84. When a few of those people in the Democratic Party

are serving Senators does add some credence to the argument. Shortley after the new congress meets talk of a new AWB reemerges. I do not think that there is a lot of pressure in congress to tackle these issues at this time. But it is easy for the Republicans to score points on these issues.

[FirstLight]

23. You know, that's NOT a good headline to see these days!

Yikes!

:hide:

I keep thinking I am glad I live rurally, so there would be less chance of riot and crazyness...but then again, there's probably MORE people up here with guns than not!

:yoiks:

[customerserviceguy]

28. Hmm

More guns per capita, and less chance of riot and craziness? Maybe you see a connection there?

I had a Spanish exchange student from the Basque region as a guest in my home out in Washington's Olympic Peninsula about a dozen years ago. One hot summer day, we were sipping lemonade out in the backyard, and he gestured towards a bedroom window, and asked why there were no bars on the windows here. I replied, "Because you don't know which house has an armed owner in it!" Went on to tell him about a guy who broke into a house in our town, was shot by the homeowner, fled, broke into a second house, got shot again by that homeowner, fled again, and when the homeowner of the third house he broke into held him at gunpoint, he was happy to see the cops finally arrive!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

25. Wasn't Limbaugh recently feeding the "Obama's gonna take your guns/ammo" meme?

That sort of stuff goes viral among the uninformed pretty easily. Also, I think the NRA had been feeding those flames as well.

When the dust settles again this will all be another testament to the old saying, "a fool and their money are soon parted."

[hollowdweller]

32. I think that was Holder

The NRA has been trying to keep the level of paranoia high so they can keep membership up, so that sends a huge wave of people to the gun stores.

Then Holder said that stuff a few weeks ago about gun control and that just fed the frenzy.

I went to a gunshow a few weeks ago and to my local gunstore last week and everything was priced HIGH and the shelves in the gunstore were half empty.

I'm not big on the so called assault weapons but if I wanted one I'd wait till this buying frenzy stops the economy gets a little worse and a LOT of people who bought in fear are going to be selling them at a LOSS

[Tejas]

40. The economy is already having an effect

"I'm not big on the so called assault weapons but if I wanted one I'd wait till this buying frenzy stops the economy gets a little worse and a LOT of people who bought in fear are going to be selling them at a LOSS"


Granted, Holder made waves but I think house/car notes + xmas bills are already taking their toll. The amount of privately owned firearms ads has jumped dramatically in the past 3 weeks, and they're not just resales from wannabe speculators that bought in a few months ago.

[Posteritatis]

68. He was right! Obama's buying it all for himself!

;)

[Blue_Tires]

34. increased demand inflated by paranoia

thank again, talk radio....

[benEzra]

35. Increased demand inflated by ex-DLC staffers stuck in the 1990's...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/urban_policy/

Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.

The last sentence and a half are the kicker. "Assault weapon" is DLC scare-speak for the most popular civilian rifles in America, so it's no wonder that people who think they'd like to own a modern-looking rifle someday are hedging their bets against the small but nonzero chance that a new ban could be passed.

Then AG Holder threw more fuel on the fire:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3756439

before Pelosi, Reid, and pro-gun Dems reigned him in and put the kibosh on new gun bans:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3757507
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=118&topic_id=203695

Tens of millions of us got burned by the original 1994 Feinstein/DLC idiocy, and are not so naive to believe that similar stupidity could not happen again.

FWIW, the run on guns started in late 2008, but the run on ammunition started just after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when a few Louisiana and Federal officials with God complexes confiscated some homeowners' guns and banned the sale of ammunition in some affected areas. A lot of people looked at that and decided to keep a bit more on hand, but the Iraq war and metals markets were already putting pressure on .223/5.56x45mm, 7.62x39mm, and .308/7.62x51mm ammo supplies (which are also the most popular civilian rifle calibers), so demand exceeded supply and prices went through the roof.

[Blue_Tires]

59. well i'm glad someone had a closed door chat with holder

hopefully that will be the last we hear from him on the matter...

[RamboLiberal]

93. And the thing is the RW nutjobs on Faux and radio will not mention

that Pelosi and some Democratic lawmakers quickly threw water on Holder's plans and sent letters to him.

They just keep ramping up Obama will take your guns and ammo.

[Tejas]

42. They don't have this problem in Washington DC

Some can't register a handgun simply due to the color of the weapon, much less shop within DC limits for one in the "approved color". The rest of us should count our blessings.

[L0oniX]

52. Only criminals and cops have guns in DC.

[L0oniX]

47. There's an 8 week wait for me to to get reloaded 9mm ammo right now.

Reloads are for target practice.

[Tejas]

53. Only a 1 week wait here for reloads

Pretty much a gunshow every weekend here in Texas, but you better be quick on the draw when the doors open. Odd though, while 9mm and .45ACP disappear in the first 1/2 hour, a good amount of .40 is always left on the tables.

[L0oniX]

55. Yea I see that at Walmart too ...there's always .40 there and other places.

I'll have to look into picking up a SW M&P .40 just so I can have ammo. Already have a SW M&P 9mm which I like very much.

[doc03]

65. I see just the opposite here, Walmart has no handgun ammo

at all I have checked at 3 of them. I bought a Springfield XDM 40 last week and the only store I found that had them in stock was Cabelas.

[tangent90]

73. I bought the last 3 boxes of .38 spl 158 gr from the local WM last week.

They didn't know when they would get more. (I'd love to find some wadcutters but they're scarcer than hen's teeth these days)

[B Calm]

51. I'm offended they call these LOONIES sportsman's! It's all about

fear they are going to make a law making it illegal to own non traceable ammunition. God forbid the police have a tool to solve murder cases. . .

[Tejas]

54. good way to get implicated in a murder

Be sure to pick up all of your spent brass at the range, at least the ones you can find.

Don't worry about that one casing you don't retrieve, it'll be found at a crime scene.

[tangent90]

72. You're right. They're so very careful using the seizure & forfeiture provisions of the drug laws.

Who couldn't love them for that?

[Uzybone]

61. Mexican gangs tooling up + paranoid gun owners = increased sales

[doc03]

66. How would we be paranoid when people actually are

trying to take your 2nd Ammendment rights away.

[BlooInBloo]

62. Heh. Maybe we shouldn't have laughed quite so hard at Chuck Norris...

:rofl:

[Posteritatis]

67. "Self-protection ammunition?"

As someone who's phenomenally clueless about firearms most of the time, is that an actual technical term or the interpretation of the person who wrote the article?

[Uzybone]

69. I think its ammo that only kills people if they are attacking you

at least thats what the name implies.

Sounds like homicide bomber to me.

[tangent90]

74. It's simply a description of the motivation for buying it. Are you serious, that you don't get that

???

[Posteritatis]

81. Since when'd asking questions about a subject one doesn't know much about become a bad thing?

Excuse me for not assuming I always know what I'm talking about like most people seem to these days.

Or, y'know, bite me; either works.

[Paladin]

87. Well Said, Posteritatis

Much more eloquent than your subject deserved.....

[tangent90]

90. You can take much comfort in the fact that not many "gun nuts" will leap to your defense

if some drugged-out thugs try to invade your home to rob you and rape your boy friend.

[Paladin]

94. Christ, You're Just Sad. (n/t)

[tangent90]

95. I actually am VERY sad that there are fascist assholes who think the BOR ends with

the first amendment.

[tangent90]

89. Please point out where I said (or implied) it was a 'bad thing'. I merely inquired if you were

asking a serious question. I still wonder.
As for biting you, I'll need to see a picture before committing to that.

[Jack_DeLeon]

82. probably refering to Hollowpoint ammunition

usually cheaper ammos such as full metal jacket (FMJ) are used for target shooting.

However people who carry handguns on a regular basis such as law enforcement officers or concealed carry handgun license holders they are usually willing to pay more for ammunition which is more likely to stop an attacker.

[Posteritatis]

88. Ahhh; thanks! (nt)

[SammyWinstonJack]

75. Whatta country.

:eyes: